Ware, David S / Planetary Unknown

Live at Jazzfestival Saalfelden 2011

Label: Aum Fidelity Country: USA

"Live at Jazzfestival Saalfelden 2011 is one of two live recordings released in July 2012 as part of AUM Fidelity's 15th anniversary. It documents the European debut of saxophonist David S. Ware's free jazz supergroup Planetary Unknown, a quartet of esteemed elder statesmen and master musicians whose experience creating influential spontaneous music spans the past 45 years.

The critically acclaimed ensemble was celebrating the release of its self-titled June 2011 debut, which reviewers called "gravity-defying" (Marcus O'Dair, Jazzwise), "breathtaking...staggering...mesmerizing" (Marc Medwin, The New York City Jazz Record), "a monumental meeting of the minds" (Ron Hart, JamBands.com), "the rare all-star session that's more than than the sum of its parts" (Jeff Jackson, Jazziz) and "a tour de force of free improvisation from four masters of the form" (Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com).

Heard here in its entirety, the group's August 27th set at Austria's Jazzfestival Saalfelden, a renowned showcase for prominent creative improvisers from around the world for more than 30 years, features three widely ranging extended improvisations. The resulting release is partly funded and made possible by the support of Zentrum Zeitgenössischer Musik and the 32nd International Jazzfestival Saalfelden.©

Collectively, David S. Ware, Cooper-Moore, William Parker and Muhammad Ali have more than 150 years of professional experience and a history that includes indispensable contributions to many of jazz and improvised music's seminal ensembles and recordings.

In addition to its awe-inspiring assemblage of talent, Planetary Unknown is also notable for reuniting Ware and Cooper-Moore (né Gene Ashton) for the first time since their formative collaborations in the early 1970's and returning the pioneering Ali (Albert Ayler, Alan Shorter and Frank Wright) to the forefront of improvised music after nearly 30 years away from the recording studio.

"Each member of the group has spent decades developing a signature on his instrument and investigating all manner of folk and art music, and that depth of knowledge is clear on the developmental, shape-shifting nature of each piece," writes the BBC's Kevin Le Gendre. "There is something compelling about the strength of character of the individuals at the beating heart of this supergroup."

In his review of Planetary Unknown, Culture Catch's Steve Holtje noted, "there is never any disjointedness or hesitation; these veterans organize their thoughts organically, instantly composing at speeds faster than thought. It's an approach that carries great risks, but with players such as these, even greater rewards, and everything works to perfection throughout this album."

This was the quartet's second live performance following its world premiere at Vision Festival 16 in New York on June 10th, 2011. The New York City Jazz Record 's John Sharpe called that concert "a towering performance of power and strength." Downtown Music Gallery 's Bruce Lee Gallanter added, "Explosive sparks erupted time and again as this quartet took off for parts unknown. This was a cosmic and triumphant set, giving us hope for things to come."

"One of the greatest saxophonists free jazz has ever seen, Ware could conjure a hurricane with his monstrous sound and epic solos," writes the Boston Globe's Steve Greenlee, who goes on to call Planetary Unknown "a career highlight."

Planetary Unknown traveled to Austria for their European concert debut at the highly esteemed Jazzfestival Saalfelden in August 2011. That concert, in its three widely ranging sections, is presented here in its majestic entirety."-Aum Fidelity